Sky Racing news update

TRAINER Brett Dodson thinks he’s got Florelle ready to win the main race on the card at Port Macquarie today.

The Coffs Harbour trainer has plenty of reasons to be confident about Florelle’s hopes in the seventh race over 1200m despite the fact it’s her first go at the track.

Dodson has only had the seven-year-old for two starts but they have been eye-catching runs, including a second placing when on debut for the stable in the $40,000 Daniel Baker Sprint (1200m) at Coffs Harbour. She then had a nine-week let-up before running fourth last start over 1000m, and Dodson liked what he saw.

MATT JONES’S BEST BETS

BEST BET

ANGEL OF HEAVEN (Race 6, No.4)

Well-bred filly who will only improve now she’s out to 1500m. Despite going up two classes, she looks too talented for her rivals.

NEXT BEST

MAGNOLIA POWER (Race 1, No.10)

Hasn’t had an easier race to contest than this. Unplaced at her first three runs but this looks winnable considering she was less than half a length off Jen Rules in town not long ago.

He was out of the placings last time but came home well to run less than four lengths off the winner. This doesn’t look like an overly strong field.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 5

Race 6: 4

Race 7: 3, 4, 7

Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 6.

TRAINER TO WATCH

KRIS LEES could have big day out. Magnolia Power, Angel Of Heaven and Total Power all look to be huge winning hopes in their races.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

ANDREW GIBBONS is riding a number of Lees’ top hopes and is also aboard Magic Name for Angela Davies.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MATT’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS

Jockey Andrew Gibbons could have a big day in tandem with trainer Kris Lees.Source:News Limited

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“She’s racing really well and ran a good race in the Coffs Sprint (two starts back), where she had to do it tough out wide but hit the line strongly in a good form race,” he said. “She’s had a bit of a freshen-up and had a good blow after that last run. The fact it was over 1000m meant they were probably a bit sharp for her, but that would have topped her off nicely.”

Florelle hasn’t run since October 2 but does race well when her runs are spaced. Dodson has kept her up to the mark fitness-wise mainly through beach swims. Her last piece of serious work confirmed she was thriving, Dodson said.

“She had a jumpout last week and went really well, so I expect her to run a nice race.”

“Her work has been good,” he said. “We don’t do much with her but the jumpout was a big improvement on what she did before her last run. She’s never far away in those Open country sprints, which are strong races. She just goes up a little in weight (2kg), which is the concern, so it will be interesting to see how she carries it.”

Florelle comes out of barrier six in the 10-horse field. That should not concern her or her jockey Matthew McGuren, who will just let her settle in the second half of the pack.

If there’s enough speed in the race, look for Florelle to come storming home. She has a habit of doing that. She can reel them in very quickly over the final 100m.

“I think she’ll come off the speed,” Dodson said. “I hope they run along so she can camp just off them and he can peel her out and wind her up. She’ll go better at 1200m on a dry track.

Florelle notched a few wins in Victoria before joining Breet Dodson’s stable two starts ago. Picture: David CroslingSource:News Corp Australia

She’s a funny mare, she doesn’t like it wet but the jar out of the track helps her.

“We’ve got the best in the business on in Matthew McGuren, so that’s in our favour.”

Dodson said the 26-start veteran had a lot of spark in her.

“I definitely think she’s a good chance now that she’s up to the right distance,” he said. “The weight is the only negative but the positives outweigh that. We’re just trying to poke around here and win a couple of races with her once she goes to the breeding barn.”

Meantime, Angela Davies says she has never had Magic Name going any better and he’s ready to step up in grade at Port Macquarie.

The Magic Albert six-year-old has only had nine starts due to injuries and setbacks, but he’s starting to put together a decent record — although a second win is due.

Davies hopes that comes in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1500m) after he ran second at his last start at Tamworth over 1400m.

“He’s going really well and has pleased me since his last run,” Davis said. “He’s tightened up, his work has been good and he looks terrific.

“Gee, he’s been unlucky at his last two. He’s missed the kick, then he’s wide and when he goes for a run, he can’t get it and the winner doesn’t go around a horse.

Trainer Angela Davies is expecting a big run from Magic Name at Port Macquarie. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

“He’s been smashing his feed and is thriving and doing well. I think it’s a step up in grade and he gets weight relief, so I think he’s in with a chance.”

Magic Name has a habit of ­settling off the speed in his races before letting down strongly in the straight, which is what he did two starts back at Port Macquarie when second to Light Motion over Thursday’s trip.

Andrew Gibbons rode him that day and this time around he’ll pilot him out of barrier six in the seven-horse field. Davies just wants to see him given every possible hope to show off his talents and he should once again be strong through the line.

A good tactical ride may win this race, too.

“I think the trip suits him and I think he can even get out to 1800m,” Davies said. “Things can be tricky with seven-horse fields but Andrew knows the horse, so I’ll leave it up to him.

“Small fields can throw up different things but being able to handle the Port Macquarie track is important and he does that well.”

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

RACE 1 (1.15pm)

10. Magnolia Power is given her easiest task here after running well in town and at the provincials at her three career runs despite being unplaced in all three. She can break through here from an inside draw. Stablemate 3. Charlie’s Law looks to be the main danger. She was good enough to send to a $100,000 race over the Scone carnival earlier in the year and ran well first-up here and should benefit greatly off that. 1. Magic Ray should lead and he’ll beat home most of the field but he’ll be suspect over the final 50m.

BET: MAGNOLIA POWER to win.

RACE 2 (1.50pm)

5. Wild Sheila ran well on debut and carries no weight again from a good gate, so there’s no reason she can’t take the next step at start two as a more confident horse. 2. Grand Acheeva is getting better with racing and produced a good last-start effort when running past most the field from last at the 800m. This race should be easier for 3. Veganza so she can bounce back, while 1. Hubble can be a player in the finish if he gets luck from the wide gate, but he’ll need a fair bit of it. He’s racing well, though.

BET: Quinella 3, 5.

RACE 3 (2.25pm)

5. Magic Name steps up a little in grade but he looks like he’s ready to go to another level. He just needs to start well and put himself into a good position and he can then finish it off. 2. O’Driscoll is the main danger. He loves racing at his home track and over the trip and he comes off a solid run in the Kempsey Cup, so he’s right in this one. 1. Achi Baba might be vulnerable late as will 3. Scotty Be Gotti, while 4. Chantilly Chateau wants further and hasn’t won or placed from six first-up runs.

BET: Exacta 5, 2.

RACE 4 (3.05pm)

1. Barkala may have run seventh last start but made up ground in the straight and was less than four lengths off the winner, so he’s a hope again. 3. Casino Mondial was good on debut and should take plenty out of it and he’s bred to be strong to the line here. 7. Exdream has been given plenty of time to mature ahead of his debut and he’s from a leading stable and has drawn well so watch out for him. 11. Jackpot Telephone wasn’t pushed too hard in a lead-up trial and may run a big race here.

BET: BARKALA to win.

RACE 5 (3.40pm)

1. Akamin has to carry the top weight but deserves it after running close behind the winners at his past three starts, including a three-length loss to Shelley Beach Road, who is a classy type. 2. Dragoneight is better than his record suggests and if he finds slight improvement this preparation he can win a few more races. 5. Let’s Rebelle has raced well fresh in the past and she gets in well at the weights and from the barrier. 4. Eddy Would Go can race well first-up and has taken on better opposition than this but he is seven now.

BET: AKAMIN to win.

RACE 6 (4.15pm)

4. Angel Of Heaven was impressive on debut and she’s one of the best-bred fillies in the country let alone the bush, so there’s no surprise she’s been put straight into Class 2 grade and she’ll love the extra 200m in trip. She probably wants even further next start. 7. Tipsy Choice always gives a good show and any improvement will give her a place chance no doubt. 5. Mizzone broke through to win at start 13 last time which came out of nowhere.

BET: ANGEL OF HEAVEN to win.

RACE 7 (4.50pm)

3. Florelle has to carry a little extra weight here but she’s a proven performer in Open company races that are even stronger than this one, so she looks like a good winning chance. Getting back up to 1200m is ideal and she should be coming over the top of them. 4. Choice Larga is arguably at his best first-up and he’s a proven performer in town and at the provincials and comes into this off one trial but it was a winning one where he looked the goods. 7. Penfold is too consistent to leave out of the multiples and she’s got great form behind her too and has the fitness edge on her main rivals.

BET: Boxed trifecta 3, 4, 7.

RACE 8 (5.30pm)

3. Total Power could end a potential super day for Kris Lees in the last. He’s a free-rolling Dundeel colt who will be up on the speed outside the leader if things work out. He took some time to wind up on debut but was strong through the line. Stablemate 6. Off The Dial has raced against some in-form runners in her short career and is better than her record suggests. 5. Just Sizzling is another who is building towards another win and he’s been freshened for this. 1. Traumatised is going to threaten late but seems to run his best over 1000m.